West Branch in Cedar County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Surrounded by Farms

— Herbert Hoover National Historic Site —

Photographed by Connor Olson, July 26, 2020

1. Surrounded by Farms Marker

Inscription. As a boy Herbert Hoover visited his relatives at their farm on the top of this hill. Issac and Esther Miles' 100-acre property was typical of the self-sufficient farms that surrounded West Branch. In 1880 they had 73 acres under cultivation with corn, oats, rye, potatoes, and apples.

Besides farming Isaac helped his brother, Benjamin, run an Indian Industrial School in West Branch. Herbert played, hunted, and fished with some other students who worked on the farm. Fishing became Hoover's favorite pasttime as an adult.

With the efficient instruction on the use of bows and arrows from a real live American Indian boy...we did bring down a pigeon or a [prairie] chicken. Herbert Hoover

Captions:
The barn and house are the only remaining structures that were here when Hoover was a boy.

Erected by National Park Service, US Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 41° 40.06′ N, 91° 21.072′ W. Marker is in West Branch, Iowa,

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in Cedar County. It can be reached from Parkside Drive, on the right when traveling south. Located at the Prairie Trail trailhead. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch IA 52358, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tall Grasses and Open Skies (here, next to this marker); Hoover Gravesite (within shouting distance of this marker); A World of Opportunity (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hoover Home (approx. ¼ mile away); To Herbert Hoover (approx. ¼ mile away); Helping War Victims (approx. ¼ mile away); Learning their A, B, Cs (approx. 0.3 miles away); Forging Character (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Branch.

Other markers

Marker inset image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, July 26, 2020

2. Marker inset

no longer nearby. Iowa Prairie (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Schoolhouse (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Friends Meetinghouse (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Restored prairie with the Miles' barn in the upper right image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, July 26, 2020

3. Restored prairie with the Miles' barn in the upper right

Credits. This page was last revised on December 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 427 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 22, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on December 23, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on December 22, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?